Refuse container cart with improved lid-actuating handle

ABSTRACT

A portable wheeled refuse or storage cart to accomodate large size refuse or storage containers and having a pivotal lid removal arm operative so as to assure repeated accurate and fully positive lid replacement responsive to manual return movement of the pivotal arm without need to touch the container and/or the container lid.

United States Patent Green Aug. 20, 1974 15 1 REFUSE CONTAINER CART WITH 2,930,561 3/1960 B11116 280 4726 x IMPROVED LHLACTUATING HANDLE 2,940,707 6/1960 Bland e1 al...v 280/4726 X 3,201,075 8/1965 Slevers 1 248/147 Inventor: C Donald Green, Vancouver, 3.214.120 10 1965 McKee 280 4726 x Wash, 3,292,795 12/1966 Chappell 280/4719 X [73] Assigneez Ha ry D. Greer. a p interest; 3,399,903 12/1968 Bailey 280/4726 X l Wash" Primary Examiner-David Schonberg [22] Filed: Feb. 12, 1973 Assistant Examiner-John A. Pekar [211 App] NO 331 353 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John E. Becker 57 ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl 280/47.24, 248/129, 280/524,

- 280/47 19 280/47 34 A portable wheeled refuse or storage cart to accomo- 51 1m. (:1 B62b 1/14 largesize refuse or Storage Fomainers and having [58] Field of Search 280/4724, 47.26, 47.19, Pwota removal arm F as to assure 280/5 24 47 248/129 147 DIG 7 peated accurate and fully p0s1t1ve 11d replacement responsive to manual return movement of the pivotal [56] References Cited arm without need to touch the container and/or the UNITED STATES PATENTS Comm 453,856 6/1891 Christy 61. a1. 248/129 10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 2,578,440 12/1951 Meyers 280/524 PATENTEDAUBZOIQH 3330.514

sum ear 2 REFUSE CONTAINER CART WITH IMPROVED LID-ACTUATING HANDLE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION providing general portability to heavily loaded storage containers or garbage cans, but relatively few have been concerned with overcoming the following problem as contemplated and solved by applicants device.

More particularly in' commercial establishments,

, such as restaurants, nursing homes, hospitals and the like, the Health Departments demands are quite strict. This is so not only in requiring lids of such garbage containers to be firmly closed in place when not in actual use, but very often also require food handlers to wash their hands each time after coming into contact with any part of the garbage container.

Therefore, since most prior art containers of which I am aware do not have features which obviate the foregoing, it is necessary to improve upon prior art devices by providing an improved cart device which can be handled more efficiently and sanitarily. It is also necessary to have it readily manuverable to facilitate its being able to be taken back and forth to the garbageim stead of the garbage being taken' in more timeconsuming steps to the container. Additionally the portability thereof further lends itself to being subsequently conveniently moved from its refuse storage position to a prescribed refuse collection point.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION Accordingly, itis a primary object of the present invention to provide a stable yet portable cart for use with storage and refuse containers and the like, which overcomes particularly the above-mentioned unsanitary shortcomings of prior art devices, and is such that when the lid is in place the container becomes firmly locked to the cart thereby precluding it from falling from the cart when tipped at any angle, and further preventing it from becoming de-lidded even if the cart is tipped completely over by scavenger animals.

Another object is to provide an improved cart of the foregoing character which is provided with improved combined pivotal lid-actuating handle and cart moving handle means to assure retention of the lid arm in any position, and positive orientation and firm closing of the lid, responsive to repeated usage.

Still another object is to provide an improved cart of the aforedescribed characteristics which embodies improved support means in conjunction with the pivotal handle means to facilitate a self-centering actionof the container within predetermined limits, and such as to readily facilitate replacement of the container onto the cart without seeking a conscious fit thereon.

Yet further objects are to provide efficient mobility to such a container cart as to enable it to be easily taken up and down stairs fully loaded; to be moved to different attitudes on a given level by foot-stirrup motion alone; and to raise the lid by arm or elbow action alone as when hands are full; and to be easily moved by ones hand associated with either the lid handle or a single arcuate handlebar to which the lid handle is pivotally attached.

These and other objects and advantages, such as adjustability features to accomodate different size as well as dual cans, are achieved by providing a two-wheel and stirrup or'three-wheeled support or carrier base having a single upstanding slightly inclined handlebar with a curved base to facilitate its movement up and down steps; and further embodying a single lidactuating arm pivotally connected via a slidable friction bracket to said upright handlebar. The lid arm is curved adjacent its connection to the handlebar to permit the lid fixedly attached thereto to re-engage the container open edge at a relatively flat but rigid angle so that it is properly oriented with the open edge of the lid, fitting slightly outside of and partially down over the head or top edge of the container. Upon subsequent downward pressure being applied to the lid-actuating arm,

the lid not only fully seats but the lid rim simultaneously forces the can to better center itself therebeneath, as by coaction with a slightly crowned can base support, or the like, enabling it to slightly pivot or rock about a vertical axis or reference point. Due-to inherent flexible characteristics of many container materials, it is not necessary to always provide a crowned base support.

A more detailed explanation will be made in conjunction with the annexed illustrative drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred form of the improved cart invention, showing parts of an associated container broken away to better illustrate various constructional and operational features thereof;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the cart of FIG 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the cart of FIGS. 1 and 2, as viewed from the handle side;

FIG. 4 is perspective view of the cart shown on a smaller scale, with the lid-actuating handle'in the raised condition;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing details of a friction bracket for the lid-actuating arm;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional detail view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational detail view of a slightly modified form of the cart;

FIG. 9 is a further fragmentary detail elevational view showing a different modified embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a reduced scale elevational view of a still further modified embodiment.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Like reference characters will designate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings, wherein the cart assembly is generally designated 10. In use of the terms container or can herein, it is to be understood that they may encompass both metallic and nonmetallic containers generally designated C, whether or not of the more conventional garbage can or oil drum style, and the like.

Cart assembly 10 comprises a carrier base frame means 12 including preferably a rectangular shaped axle plate 14 to which an axle 16 is suitably attached. Axle 16 projects beyond opposite ends of plate 14 sufficiently to accomodate attachment thereto of a pair of wheels members 18, as shown. Preferably a single generally upright handlebar 20 has a lower linear forwardly projecting end portion 22 which is fixedly attached to the axle plate 14 in a manner transversely to the axle 16. The end portion 22 may be considered to constitute a part of the base frame means 12 because generally the forward extremity thereof and the laterally opposite portions of the axle plate 14 each have upright spacer members 24 projecting thereabove for attachment thereto of a container support member 26. Container support member 26 is preferably of disc form, although it may have other constructions, and is of a size corresponding generally to that of the container bottom 28 to suitably accomodate said base 28 in accordance with the forms shown in any of FIGS. 1, 8 and 9. Additionally, a stirrup-like support member 19 depends from a forward side of the underside of container support member 26 to help stabilize the carrier device in the upright condition.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the disc-shaped support member 26 is slightly less than the diameter of the can bottom 28, which can C has a lower edge peripheral skirt portion 30 which depends from or extends below can bottom 28, as shown. The relative size of the support member 26 is such as to make it easy for the can to become essentially self-centered and relatively stabilized thereon.

Because most garbage type containers are of a tapered shape, the handlebar 20 has its main upright portion 32 angled away from the base portion sufficiently to generally correspond to the taper of such tapered containers. The upright portion 32 of the handlebar 20 preferably is provided at a lower part thereof with an arcuate portion 34 which is of a curvature so as to extend in part rearwardly of the wheel tread. This is to facilitate ease of moving the carrier device up and down steps by having the arcuate portion bear against the tread nose of the steps.

The outward disposition of the handlebar 20, 32 from the container C is such as to provide adequate space for the attachment of a lid-actuating handle means generally designated 36. Said handle means 36 includes a handle having a generally linear main portion 38 and a preferably arcuately formed offset rearward portion 40. Said handle may be of any suitable cross-sectional form, although a tubular form is illustrated. Said handle 36 is provided at its rearward end portion with means for pivotally cooperating with a suitable bracket means 42, such that when a container C and its lid L are in general assembly on the carrier, the linear portion 38 of the lid-actuating handle is disposed generally horizontally adjacently above the lid L. The lid is to be fixedly attached to said lid-actuating handle any suitable means, such as clamp means 44, cooperating with the lid handle 46 so as to keep the major plane of the lid generally parallel to the linear portion 38.

Bracket means 42 is illustrated as being of generally U-shape strap form, having a bight portion 48 to frictionally encircle the preferably tubular handlebar portion 32, and further having the opposed arms 50 of the bracket each provided with two spaced apart, aligned apertures 52, 52. One set of aligned holes receives a fastener means 53 adapted to pass through an aperture 54 in the terminal end portion of handle means 36. Fastener means may be of any suitable form permitting the lid actuating handle to pivot relative thereto. A preferred form of fastener means includes a complemental bolt and wing nut assembly, with lock washer if desired, so as to provide selective degrees of frictional clamping of the handle 38.

A similar fastener means 53 is used in the other set of apertures 52 closest to the bight portion 48, to frictionally clamp the bracket to the handlebar 32 at selectively different heights to accommodate different size containers.

Both the handlebar means 20 and the lid-actuating handle means 36 may include hand grips 21 and 37 respectively.

OPERATION Referring primarily to FIG. 1, the described cart or carrier construction enables the placement of a container upon the disc support 26 in the relatively stable manner as previously described. With the garbage can lid L attached rigidly to handle means 36, as described, and optionally stabilizing the cart from any shifting movement as by inserting ones foot into the stirrup, the raising of the handle by engaging grip 37 withdraws the lid from the container, such as to the position shown in broken lines. Due to the friction bracket, the lid will remain open at any chosen position or angle, until closed. Then, after depositing the refuse in the container and without need of directly touching the container with ones hand, the handle means 36 is lowered to the closed condition. The relative relationships of the carrier handle bar and lid-actuating handle means with its curved offset form is such that during closing of the lid, the lid will engage the can top at a relatively flat angle and in a rigid or non-pivotal manner. It is such that the depending annular lip or flange 56 (FIG. 1) of the lid L will be properly oriented relative to and will engage slightly outside of at least a substantial portion of the peripheral open edge 58 of the container top, with a part of the depending lip usually extending at least partially below the top edge or bead of the open can top. Further downward movement of the handle means 36 enables the lid rim or flange 56 to effect more complete centering of the can if necessary, beneath the lid, and to simultaneously effect full positive closing of the container.

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS The self centering inter-action between the can and lid may be aided by the modified construction of FIG. 8. Therein the can support member 26' is preferably provided with suitable means, such as a crowned center portion 27, to enable the can to slightly rock and roll or pivot about its vertical axis. In practice, however, it is to be noted that there usually is enough flexibility in the material of the containerto enable the open top edge to yield sufficiently or otherwise become more properly centered if needed, rather than having to rely upon the crowned base support.

In the further embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, there is provided a container support member 26" which is slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the container base to be associated therewith. This modified base or support member 26" is provided with an upturned lip or flange 60 either completely or segmentally around the preferably annular periphery of said member. This is to stably accomodate and center containers which are often made of a plastic material, and which do not normally have a base well formed by the depending annular skirt 30in the FIG. 1 embodiment. The upturned flange 60 may optionally and less desirably be further provided with upwardly extending auxiliary container stabilizing braces or hoop means 62, shown in broken outline in FIG. 9.

The reasonfor preferably omitting the use of such auxilary brace means 62, is that without them, the container support members are sized with a predetermined tolerance which readily permits both removal of the container from thecart by collecting garbage-men and replacement thereof without losing time to consciously seek a -fit'. Tests have shown that one can actually toss the can onto the cart, and having reasonable accuracy thecan willgenerally fall into its correct position thereoniThis same general predetermined tolerance of the base-size enables the. can to become more easily centered beneath-the lid and the lid positively seated without requiring any fitting."

The present invention contemplates a cart construction adapted to handle two such containers in a tandem relationshipof which an assembly is depicted in FIG 10. In this embodiment the carrier base frame 12 includes'elonga-ted frame members of any suitable form to span the-required distance. it may comprise duplirup'member 19. This also is contemplated even for the FIG. lO-embodiment wherein one set of the wheels can be replaced by one or more caster wheels, to better facilitate steering thereof.

Further contemplated variations may include elimination of the upright spacer members 24, and merely attach the handle or frame portion 22 directly to the underside of the container support member 26. The frames may also be of a rectangular open framework, as viewed in top or bottom plan.

While in the above, various practical embodiments of the invention have been disclosed. it is apparent that the specific details of the apparatus shown are merely by way of a feasible example, and the subject invention may take still other forms and embodiments within the spirit of the disclosureand within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved mobile carrier device for accomodating storage and refuse type containers having open top edges and associated removable lids with lid edges extending transversely to the lid body, the refuse containers each having an annular lower skirt portion depending below the container bottom, and said carrier device extending downwardly around a substantial portion of said support member;

b. a generally upright handlebar fixedly connected at a lower end to said carrier base frame means and extending upwardly adjacent a containers position on said support member to facilitate at least partial means for imparting movement to said carrier device;

c. a lid-actuating handle means including a lidactuating handle having a major generally linear portion and an offset end portion the latter being pivotally connected by clamp means to said upright handlebar in an area which is adjacent to the generally top edge of a container associatable therewith;

d. means connected to said linear portion of said lidactuating handle to fixedly attach a container lid thereto;

e. said lid-actuating handle being adjustably attached at said offset end to said handlebar and being sufficiently offset so that with a container generally in place on said container support member and with a lid attached to said lid-actuating handle, said lid is removably and replaceably actuated by manual operation of said pivotal handle in a manner prop erly orienting said lid each time during replacement by positioning said lid to engage said container top edge at a relatively fiat angle, with said lid edge disposed slightly-outwardly of at least a relatively large circumferential portion of said containers top edge; and

f. wherein said container support member of paragraph (a) further includes a slightly crowned medial portion upon which said container is supportable in a manner to rock or pivot thereon responsive to lid-closing centering action of the lidactuating handle, and during such movement of said lid handle in a downward lid-closing direction said container top edge is cammingly centered thereunder and said lid is fully firmly held closed thereon.

2. The carrier device as defined in claim 1, wherein said handlebar of paragraph (b) is provided with an arcuate portion at a point adjacent an edge of said container support member, said arcuate portion extending partially beyond said wheel means and adapted to facilitate ease of moving said device up and down steps by frictionally camming action with said steps.

3. The carrier device as defined in claim 1, wherein said clamp means of paragraph (c), for pivotally connecting said lid handle to said upright handlebar, includes adjustable friction clamping members for adjustably attaching said handle thereto to vary the attachment height according to varying size containers useable therewith, and to frictionally adjust the clamping members to assure maintaining said handle in any given position.

4. The carrier device as defined in claim 1, wherein said container support member includes containerretaining means upstanding from and outwardly of a container bottom portion to preclude substantial lateral displacement of said container therefrom which may tend to inadvertantly dissociate said container from said carrier device.

5. The carrier device as defined in claim 1, wherein said lid-actuating handle is of a length so that it has a free end extending beyond the point of attachment of said container lid, to facilitate grasping to actuate said handle during opening and closing and also to facilitate selective manuvering of said wheeled device thereby as well as by said handlebar.

6. The carrier device as defined in claim 1, wherein said wheel means of the base frame means include at 8. The carrier device as defined in claim 1, wherein said wheel means of the base frame means of paragraph (a) include at least two laterally spaced wheels and means for mounting same thereon at generally one side of said base frame means. and a third wheel pivotally mounted for caster-like action at a side opposite that to which said first two wheels are attached and medially between said wheels. P

9. The carrier device as defined in claim 1, wherein said carrier base frame means of paragraph (a) is elongated sufficiently to include a second of said container support members in tandem to said first-mentioned support member, and further including a corresponding upright handlebar and attached lid-actuating handle means, to thereby accomodate portable movement of two such containers.

10. The carrier device as defined in claim 9, wherein said wheel means includes a pair of laterally spaced wheels at one end of said frame base means and at least one additional wheel means at an opposite end thereof. 

1. An improved mobile carrier device for accomodating storage and refuse type containers having open top edges and associated removable lids with lid edges extending transversely to the lid body, the refuse containers each having an annular lower skirt portion depending below the container bottom, and said carrier device comprising in combination: a. carrier base frame means having wheel means attached thereto, and including a container support member corresponding generally to the size of the bottom of a container to be carried thereon and having generally coplanar peripheral portions of a size slightly less than the container bottom so as to provide a relatively stable fit of said container thereon, and with said lower depending skirt edge extending downwardly around a substantial portion of said support member; b. a generally upright handlebar fixedly connected at a lower end to said carrier base frame means and extending upwardly adjacent a container''s position on said support member to facilitate at least partial means for imparting movement to said carrier device; c. a lid-actuating handle means including a lid-actuating handle having a major generally linear portion and an offset end portion the latter being pivotally connected by clamp means to said upright handlebar in an area which is adjacent to the generally top edge of a container associatable therewith; d. means connected to said linear portion of said lid-actuating handle to fixedly attach a container lid thereto; e. said lid-actuating handle being adjustably attached at said offset end to said handlebar and being sufficiently offset so that with a container generally in place on said container support member and with a lid attached to said lid-actuating handle, said lid is removably and replaceably actuated by manual operation of said pivotal handle in a manner properly orienting said lid each time during replacement by positioning said lid to engage said container top edge at a relatively flat angle, with said lid edge disposed slightly outwardly of at least a relatively large circumferential portion of said container''s top edge; and f. wherein said container support member of paragraph (a) further includes a slightly crowned medial portion upon which said container is supportable in a manner to rock or pivot thereon responsive to lid-closing centering action of the lidactuating handle, and during such movement of said lid handle in a downward lid-closing direction said container top edge is cammingly centered thereunder and said lid is fully firmly held closed thereon.
 2. The carrier device as defined in claim 1, wherein said handlebar of paragraph (b) is provided with an arcuate portion at a point adjacent an edge of said container support member, said arcuate portion extending partially beyond said wheel means and adapted to facilitate ease of moving said device up and down steps by frictionally camming action with said steps.
 3. The carrier deviCe as defined in claim 1, wherein said clamp means of paragraph (c), for pivotally connecting said lid handle to said upright handlebar, includes adjustable friction clamping members for adjustably attaching said handle thereto to vary the attachment height according to varying size containers useable therewith, and to frictionally adjust the clamping members to assure maintaining said handle in any given position.
 4. The carrier device as defined in claim 1, wherein said container support member includes container-retaining means upstanding from and outwardly of a container bottom portion to preclude substantial lateral displacement of said container therefrom which may tend to inadvertantly dissociate said container from said carrier device.
 5. The carrier device as defined in claim 1, wherein said lid-actuating handle is of a length so that it has a free end extending beyond the point of attachment of said container lid, to facilitate grasping to actuate said handle during opening and closing and also to facilitate selective manuvering of said wheeled device thereby as well as by said handlebar.
 6. The carrier device as defined in claim 1, wherein said wheel means of the base frame means include at least two laterally spaced wheels and means for mounting same thereon.
 7. The carrier device as defined in claim 1, wherein said wheel means of the base frame means of paragraph (a) include at least two laterally spaced wheels and means for mounting same thereon; and said base frame means further includes a foot-receivable stirrup member rigidly attached at a side opposite that to which said wheels are attached and medially between said wheels.
 8. The carrier device as defined in claim 1, wherein said wheel means of the base frame means of paragraph (a) include at least two laterally spaced wheels and means for mounting same thereon at generally one side of said base frame means, and a third wheel pivotally mounted for caster-like action at a side opposite that to which said first two wheels are attached and medially between said wheels.
 9. The carrier device as defined in claim 1, wherein said carrier base frame means of paragraph (a) is elongated sufficiently to include a second of said container support members in tandem to said first-mentioned support member, and further including a corresponding upright handlebar and attached lid-actuating handle means, to thereby accomodate portable movement of two such containers.
 10. The carrier device as defined in claim 9, wherein said wheel means includes a pair of laterally spaced wheels at one end of said frame base means and at least one additional wheel means at an opposite end thereof. 